A local thief and outcasted police detective, Park Seonghwa, become unlikely partners in crime to solve a string of murders.
START: 3.31.2020
FINISH: 2.20.2021
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record 01...JUNE 3
6:23 AM
THE WAVES gently crash against the shore, the reflection of the rising sun dancing on the surface. They retreat, leaving behind some clues as to what is hidden within the blue sea. Mrs. Evan's little boy, Cam, chases after the waves, kicking up sand in his wake.
His eyes light up at the prospect of finding the seashells and pebbles the water left behind. Early Saturday mornings were the best days to search for them, the beach quiet and abandoned.
He crouches where the sand meets the sea, the water pooling around his feet. His little fingers reach for a shiny pink shell, wondering if he will be able to hear the ocean in it later. He stuffs it in the pocket of his shorts.
The crowing of the seagulls draws his eyes upward to the skies and he blindly chases them, jumping and stretching his hands out as if he could catch them. In the distance, his mother in her lawn chair looks up from her book with a fond smile before dropping her eyes back to the page.
Cam's mouth drops as the seagulls land around a half-buried mass of seaweed, pecking half-heartedly at it. He accelerates excitedly, the birds fleeing and cawing in protest.
Cam has never seen seaweed before. He drops to his knees in front of it, digging his hands into the slimy, sandy pile.
When his hand doesn't come out on the other side to the sand, he blinks, perplexed. This isn't seaweed. His eyes widen as he notices a sandy hand, chipped nails painted a pretty sky blue.
Why is she sleeping here?
He attempts shakes to shake her awake, even more confused to see her green eyes tinged red and glassy, sand particles clinging to eyelashes.
"Mom!" he shouts from across the sand, causing her to look up curiously. "Why is this lady sleeping in the sand?"
Carla Evans stands so fast that her lawn chair topples over, sand particles flying away in the summer wind. Her book falls into the sand, forgotten as she runs to the water. She snatches Cam into her arms, covering his wide eyes.
"It's okay, baby," she hushes him, her hands trembling against her son's back as she scrambles to call 911.
The waves that once seemed innocent now crash over their feet loudly, as if they were screaming.
·.·.·
2 DAYS EARLIER
"You're being placed on leave," the police Captain says matter-of-factly, his lips in a grim line. Despite his calm face, Seonghwa's fingers dig into his palm and a drop of sweat trails down the nape of his neck. He expected this, but it did not make it any easier to stomach.
"Yes sir," he responds blankly, mechanically. Captain Hartley taps his fingers on his desk, a sigh breaking free from his lips as his eyes inspect Seonghwa's state.
He probably can see the tension in his shoulders or the bags under his eyes. He revels in it, the chance to finally knock the competent officer down a few pegs. He's disliked Seonghwa ever since he joined the force years ago and never tried to hide it.
His smile widens ever so slightly, a pleased glimmer in his eye. "You will be transferred to Cape Freewell's Police Department on desk duty for the duration of the investigation."
Cape Freewell was a small dead-end coastal town a few hours south of the city. More importantly, it was known to be full of washed up has beens and trashy people with lives going nowhere. The cases consisted mainly of petty theft and drug charges, nothing he finds a purpose in.
An angry refusal fights its way onto Seonghwa's tongue and he bites his bottom lip to stop it from coming out. It was pointless. He could sense it heavy in the air, Hartley's elation. He would not hesitate to add more reprimands to his record.
"This wouldn't have been such a surprise for you if you had answered our calls days ago instead of abandoning your post." Hartley is baiting him, and Seonghwa really wants to bite. "I should have seen this coming considering your disciplinary record, but still, I am disappointed."
"I am sorry Captain," Seonghwa replies insincerely, eyes on the floor for fear of Hartley seeing the anger boiling up in his throat. He regretted his actions, he definitely did not owe Captain Hartley an apology.
"Get well soon, officer," he says sarcastically with a pointed look at the cast on Seonghwa's right arm. "You're dismissed."
As Seonghwa storms out of Newhurst's police department, the eyes of his colleagues follow his retreating figure, whispers bouncing off the walls.
·.·.·
Cape Freewell is exactly everything Seonghwa expected. It is tiny and suffocating. The entire town looks like it is a strong wind away from falling apart. The buildings are old and historic, and not in a way that is flattering. The fishing industry and small businesses seem to be the only things holding it together.
Within a week, Seonghwa had already arrived in Cape Freewell, disgusted and terrified at the prospect of rebuilding his life from scratch. He was lucky he hadn't been fired on the spot, but it would be near impossible to receive a promotion and return to his former glory.
The Cape Freewell Police Department, a cramped building without air conditioning, is terrible and musty, the captain content to sit behind his desk working his way through a box of cookies.
At least he was able to find a small house to rent. It is not a luxury with the dingy off-white clapboard siding falling apart and the rickety screen doors. Still, it was a lot cheaper than anything he'd find the city, at least. The few boxes he packed days ago take up nearly all the space in the kitchen.
He had left so quickly. Old photographs and papers were trashed carelessly. The few memories of his time in the city weren't worth remembering anyway. He barely had a life in Newhurst, constantly focused on his work. It was the only way he knew to get by.
Unpacking the disorganized boxes with only one hand seems too daunting a task so he doesn't bother. Instead, Seonghwa takes a short walk to the beach, sighing in relief when he finds it empty of locals.
He finds a quiet place and sits in front of the water, staring blindly at the horizon until his vision blurs the blue of the sea and the blue of the sky into one jumbled, ugly mess.
He had ruined everything he had built for himself again. Despite his best attempts, the pressure is mounting. How will he deal with the bills? The guilt?
For the first time in a long time, Seonghwa rests his head on his knees and allows himself to remember, if only for a little bit.
